Information Technology and Ideology

Authors

Kala Saravanamuthu, School of Accounting, Finance and Entrepreneurship, University of New England, Armidale 2351, New South Wales, Australia and School of Accounting and Information Systems, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, South Australia

Document Type

Research Article

Abstract

The scientific origin of information technology (IT) does not make it a neutral witness to the ongoing struggle over how scarce resources are used for generating more wealth. This paper argues that the manner in which the technology is used for capturing, reporting and disseminating information reflects the underlying dialectic of control among competing organizational stakeholders as they contest the logic of capitalist priorities. IT's politically intrusive role in the struggle for control is discussed through a critique of a people-oriented information system methodology, Multiview 2, which fails to problematize the struggle over workplace ideology. The paper highlights the significance of this shortcoming by analysing capital's ideological use of business process re-engineering for gaining workers’ consent to their own exploitation. This 1990s’ innovation portrays the subjugation of social interests in favour of the relentless pursuit of profit as a coherent social approach to transforming labour relations. In conclusion, it is proposed that IT's social role should be an emancipatory one, which, given the competitive-interdependent context of work, should facilitate the emergence of multiple worldviews.

DOI

10.1080/02683960210145977

Recommended Citation

Saravanamuthu, Kala (2002) "Information Technology and Ideology," Journal of Information Technology: Vol. 17: Iss. 2, Article 5.
DOI: 10.1080/02683960210145977
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jit/vol17/iss2/5